He knew he used foul language to entertain his guests at my expense.”
Thero then reported the matter to his immediate superior, another commander’s bodyguard, Corporal Gabofele, who apparently had difficulties raising the issue with his boss. “The issue just simply died away like that.”
He claimed that since he could not pocket his boss’ “insults”, he reported the issue to Second Brigade Commander in Francistown, Brigadier Mabengane between December 25-30 last year. “My concern was that besides insults, I could not continue cooking for the commander’s guests and his 15 farm workers. I told Mabengane that the commander issued instructions that we should cook for his farm workers and it became like an official duty.”
His other concern was that the food that was cooked at the commander’s farm was taken from the BDF kitchen. “At some stage, I literally refused to go and collect food from the BDF kitchen in Maun as that meant breaking regulations on supplies. There were 12 of us on the trip but I was instructed to go and get a food ration for 43 people. I saw this as pure “theft” and refused to execute such orders issued by a Warrant Officer (name withheld).” The unfortunate thing, he said, is that his actions were interpreted to mean that he was against the commander himself.
Thero was suspended from work following a shooting incident at the Area-W BDF camp where three army officers were injured. “I don’t have anything against the commander. It is just that I want to correct things for the benefit of the entire BDF,” he said denying accusations that he was simply clutching at straws.
He stressed that Brigadier Mabengane recently warned him that Thero visited his office where he raised a lot of issues. One of the issues he raised was that he was going to avenge his suspension from work pending the case of attempted murder. He allegedly indicated that I continue ignoring him although he served in my team of batmen. “Mabengane even warned that Thero also indicated that he was planning to do something that would pain some of us when he goes to jail.”
Fisher further pointed out that in this day and age, there was no way he could do what Thero claims he did.
Efforts to reach Mabengane and Fisher’s farm workers were futile by press time.
